I have not seen a definitive explanation for why WP does not all username changes. It is extremely simple to change it in the database, with no harm done that I can see. Why then is it not allowed in the Dashboard? Possibly just even an admin function?
Username Change (Feature Request) (11 posts)
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joshlevinson
Posted 3 months ago #
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Why would you need to change a username?
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Posted 3 months ago #
@Andrew - your question confused me a bit. I was thinking mostly from an admin perspective.
@esmi - I have run into a few scenarios where this would be useful.
1. A wordpress setup with the 'admin' user, with quite a few posts. I want to change the username for security reasons, as many suggest to do, but without having to create a new user, delete the original user, and assign his posts to the new user. Kind of a hassle.
2. A wordpress setup for a client where I misspelled one of the usernames, then that person created a bunch of posts before complaining that their username was misspelled.
I'm sure I've run into more situations, but cannot recall those now. I'll post later if I can think of them.
Tbh, I don't see a good reason NOT to allow this. However, I'm open to suggestions. Why do you guys think it's not a good feature to have by default?
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Jan Dembowski
Posted 3 months ago #
Kind of a hassle.
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Why do you guys think it's not a good feature to have by default?
It's a safe hassle and in my opinion those step reinforce that you've a new user ID. Also being able to change it on a whim would lead to more people being locked out more often. That's just my opinion as a support person.
If you really feel strongly about it I am sure a plugin can be used or made if one's not already out there.
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Posted 3 months ago #
Again, consider this only being allowed by the Administrator role.
Why do you need to reinforce that you have a new user ID?
I'm sure I could whip up a plugin to do the job, but I just was wondering why it is explicitly not allowed when it seems (sorry if I envisage it to simplistically) so simple to me.
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1. http://w-shadow.com/blog/2008/07/24/change-admin-username-in-wordpress/
2. Set up a new user with the correct username and a throwaway email address. Delete the old user. during the deletion process, you should be asked if you want to delete the old user's posts or transfer them to another user. Select the new user. Finally, change the new user's email address to the one previously used.
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Posted 3 months ago #
Set up a new user with the correct username and a throwaway email address. Delete the old user. during the deletion process, you should be asked if you want to delete the old user's posts or transfer them to another user. Select the new user. Finally, change the new user's email address to the one previously used.
Quoting myself:
I want to change the username for security reasons, as many suggest to do, but without having to create a new user, delete the original user, and assign his posts to the new user. Kind of a hassle.
I know I can do that already, and I know that plugins are out there. My initial question is why is the option expressly forbidden by default?
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Ipstenu (Mika Epstein)
Posted 3 months ago #
My initial question is why is the option expressly forbidden by default?
To prevent breaking data serialization in other sections of WP. Notably if you did that with Multisite, you'd remove yourself as a Super Admin.
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Posted 3 months ago #
Okay - that answers my question. So for single and Multisite, the serialization is the problem?
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MDTroutman
Posted 4 days ago #
It is a needed feature.
I set up a domain, a website and through the host's interface I was able to install WordPress 3.5.1. , but because I did not notice the username data entry line on the poorly designed install dialog box provided by the host I ended up with my long company email address as my username. Now I'm stuck with it.
Now, I understand someone saying "Why do you need to change it, if it were mutable there would be so many people changing it and forgetting it, etc. etc." but from a logic and problem solving standpoint it make absolute sense to have a feature that allows admins to change the username. First, a critical option needs to be mutable to allow for a critical error. Standard logic. Second, an experienced problem solver should be able to devise the option to change the username only under specific and well thought out rules, using a clever guided user interface, something with sufficient warning with context, would weed out light thinking on what it means to change the username. This would likely be a solution for someone who is just out of the the gate rather than someone with a older, well established site. A site with less tentacles that would cause problems.
Thoughts?
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Posted 4 days ago #
Well said.
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